The experiment was performed to investigate changes of maternal immune status during the pregnancy. We observed the distribution of several immune cells [macrophage, activated B-cell, IgM+ B-cell, Lyt-2+ T-cell and L3T4+ T-cells] in the utero-placental interface and the peripheral blood of Balb/c mice. The experimental animals were divided into seven groups by the gestational ages ; virgin, 2nd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 14th and 19th day of pregnancy. In the utero-placental interface, the distribution patterns of the lymphocytes [both T and B] and macrophages were observed. Histochemical staining by naphthol-AS-MX phosphate sodium salt was used for the detection of activated B-cells. For the detection of macrophage, plasma cell, suppressor cell and helper cell, all the prepared samples reacted with Rat anti-mouse Mac-1, goat anti-mouse IgM, rat anti-Lyt2 and rat anti-L3T4 antibody first, and washed. Second reaction was done with biotinylated anti-rat or anti-mouse IgG anti-bodies, and washed. Avidin-biotin -peroxidase complex and 3, 3`-diamino-benzidine[DAB] were used for the visualization of specific cells. T-cells and B-cells were not observed during the all stages of pregnancy. By contrast, macrophages were observed a few at the perimetrium on the second day of gestation, and they were found at the outermost portion of the trophoblastic layer on the 8th day, and they were observed at the decidua basalis in late pregnancy after the 10th day when the placenta were well developed. In the peripheral blood, activated B-cells were not observed throughout the pregnancy. On the 8th day, the proportion of plasma cells to total mononuclear cells was decreased significantly to 16+/-2.4% compared with the virgin group[22+/-2.6%][p<0.01]. It increased again and it reached 42+/-5.8% on the 14th day and 37+/-4.9% on the 19th day. Helper T-cells were decreased on the 14th day[30+/-2.4%] compared with the normal control[47+/-5.1%]. But, Suppressor T-cells were increased on the 8th day[35+/-2.9%] and the 10th day[33+/-3.6%] compared with the normal controls[27+/-2.3%]. This decrement returned to the level of the normal controls on the 14th day and 19th day. Together with our previous data, we could find the synchronized changes of immune cells in utero-placental interface, uterus draining lymph nodes, peripheral blood and spleen. Therefore, we suggest that macrophages in utero-placental interface may play an important role for the immune responses against the fetal transplantation antigen.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Decidua ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Goats ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages* ; Mice* ; Placenta ; Plasma Cells ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Sodium ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Trophoblasts ; Uterus

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: MRI performed preoperatively for Hepatocellular Carcinoma(HCC) not only detects and provides information on the tumor characteristics but can also be used as a noninvasive method via MR-angiogram. MR-angiogram can reconstruct the tumor and its relation to vessels in three dimension. Therefore, it has the advantage of presenting the exact relations of the tumor and the intrahepatic vessels. Recently, preoperative imaging in HCC has become more complex. The invasive angiography is at the center of these various, complex tests and there is a tendency for unnecessary, repeated testing. The cost of these complex tests is hard to ignore. The purpose of this study was to compare single preoperative MRI with other tests and weigh the advantages. METHODS: The subjects were thirty-nine patients who underwent surgery for HCC from November, 1997 through October, 1998. Ten of these patients who had HCC with the diameter of less than 5cm, were evaluated with MRI and when necessary MR angiogram only. The control group were eleven patients with tumor of the same size as above but whom were evaluated with abdominal CT + Hepatic angiogram + Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) + lipodol CT, abdominal CT + Hepatic angiogram + CT - AP + TACE + lipodol CT or abdominal CT + Hepatic angiogram + CT - AP + TACE during the identical period. RESULTS: The average cost of preoperative testing was lowest with MRI only. There were no deaths in either group and complication occured in one case of each group. Comparison of the duration of admission between these groups showed a statistically significant difference(p=0.003). The MRI only group with an average of 22.5 days and the control group of 30.8 days. This was due to shortening of the preoperative testing time. Another point worth noting is that patients who underwent MRI alone complained less of discomfort. CONCLUSION: MRI alone group was comparable to control group in providing of preoperative anatomical information. Not performing angiography did not increase risks technically during operation. The authors suggest that MRI as the single preoperative imaging test can be in alternative to the various preoperative imaging test.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The mechanism of Western medicine that is commonly used for pain relief is well-known. However, very little is known for oriental herbs, and even less is known for mixture of the two. We investigated the combinational effect of 3 kinds of oriental herbs, usually used for the control of headache, and acetaminophen to relieve headache in microglia cell line, BV2. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation induced to produce nitrite and increased the expression of inflammation-related factors like inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in murine microglia cell line, BV2. Oriental herbs such as Angelica tenuissima, Angelica dahurica, and Scutellaria baicalensis reduced the production of nitric oxide and the expression of COX-2. Moreover, a treatment of acetaminophen combined with oriental herbs was more decreased the COX-2 expression, and its product, prostaglandin E2 production in BV2 cells. Therefore, a combined treatment of oriental herbs such as A. tenuissima, A. dahurica, and S. baicalensis and Western medicine like acetaminophen has a synergistic effect on the decrease of LPS-induced inflammation in microglia.
Acetaminophen* ; Angelica ; Cell Line* ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dinoprostone ; Headache ; Inflammation ; Microglia* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Scutellaria baicalensis

Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient that affects immune responses. T cells are one of the main players in acquired immunity and have been reported to be influenced by in vivo vitamin C supplementation. Yet, the way by which T cells uptake vitamin C and what direct effects vitamin C exerts on the cells are not known. To elucidate, we isolated human peripheral blood T cells and analyzed the expression of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCT). T cells were activated in vitro in the absence or presence of vitamin C, before or after activation. As results, human T cells expressed SVCT2, but not SVCT1, and the expression level increased following activation. Vitamin C added in the culture media generally did not affect T-cell behaviors following activation, such as proliferation, apoptosis, expression of CD25 and CD69, and interleukin 2 secretion, regardless whether it was added before or after activation. However, exceptionally, high concentration vitamin C, when it was added before activation, but not after activation, did exert toxic effects on cell activation with respect to the above-mentioned parameters. In conclusion, we showed the expression of SVCT2 in human T cells for the first time. Vitamin C exerted toxic effects, at least in vitro, when the concentration was high and when it was given before activation. These toxic effects are not thought to be via anti-oxidant effects of vitamin C.
Adaptive Immunity ; Antioxidants ; Apoptosis ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Culture Media ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Interleukin-2 ; Micronutrients ; Sodium-Coupled Vitamin C Transporters* ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: In order to determine the value of first-pass MR imaging in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, first-pass perfusion abnormality of coronary artery stenosis was observed in MRI after gadopentate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary arteries of six dogs were subjected to approximately 70% stenosis confirmed by coronary angiography. Half an hour after adenosine and 99mTc-sestamibi infusion, Gd-DTPA (0.2 mmol/kg) and methylene blue were administered and termination was induced with potassium chloride. SE T1-weighted and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images were subsequently obtained and the findings of perfusion defect compared with specimen stain. Three dimensionally reconstructed MR images were used to measure signal intensity (SI) of normal myocardium and perfusion defect from their sectional and total volume. RESULTS: Five of six dogs with LAD artey stenosis ranging from 66% to 73% displayed perfusion defect on MRI, SPECT, and specimen stain, but the remaining dog with stenosis of 58% showed no such defect. MRI showed the perfusion defect as distinct low SI, enabling the measurement of percentage perfusion defect (24.4+/-5.4%), which increased inferiorly. SI of normal myocardium and perfusion defect decreased inferiorly; their difference indicated stenosis-induced perfusion loss according to section location. Volumetric SI of normal myocardium and perfusion defect were 3.42+/-0.52 and 2.16+/-0.45, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI displayed first-pass perfusion abnormality of coronary artery stenosis as perfusion defect with distinct low SI ; this enabled the measurement of its volume and SI changes according to section location, and thus indicated the value of first-pass MR imaging in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.
Adenosine ; Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Gadolinium DTPA* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Methylene Blue ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium ; Perfusion* ; Potassium Chloride ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

No abstract available.
Education* ; Multimedia* ; Neck*

Thyroid gland is composed of follicles surrounded by basement membrane, which is known to be related to the regenerative processes in several organs. This study was performed to observe the morphological details and changes of the basement membrane components, which are the presumtive factors in thyroid regeneration, with time sequences after partial thyroidectomy and then the relations between the components and thyroid regeneration were confirmed. Thyroid galnds of adult male rats were examined before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 days after bilateral partial[50-60%] thyroidectomy. The basememnt membranes of follicles were prominent with high eosinophilicity at later stage when H & E stained. But in PAS and EM staining, the basement membrane of the operated groups didn`t show any specific changes comparing with control group but the dense collagenous fibers at the interfollicular space outside the membrane. Immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen[PCNA], which reflects the growth fraction, showed 2.3% positivity of total follicular cells in control group. The PCNA positive ratio in experimental groups were 10.3%, 15.9%, 19.9%, 12.2%, 10.5%, 1.9%, 2.7% on postoperative 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 days respectively. In unilaterally thyroidectomized rats, the resected lobe revealed 18.2% of PCNA positive ratio 3 days after operation, while that in the unresected lobe was only 5.9%. This suggested the predominence of local factors in thyroid regeneration. Meanwhile, with the double immunostaining of calcitonin and PCNA discriminate between follicular cells and C-cells among the PCNA positive cells, PCNA positive C-cells were very rare. The immunostaining of laminin, fibronectin, and collagen IV showed varying intensity with the progress of regeneration. Stainability for collagen IV was maintained in all groups with some increase in 5- and 7-day groups. Laminin was well localized to the basement membrane of the control follicle, and the staining intensity for laminin was markedly increased with additional cytoplasmic staining in follicular cells in 1- to 3-day groups and then decreased to attain the control level in 10-day group. In case of fibronectin, the control follicle showed scarce staining, but the resected group showed strong positivity for fibronectin with the most intense staining in 1- to 3-day groups. Immunostaining for fibronectin still showes in 10-day group with the gradual disappearance of immunoreactivity in the center of the lobe. This study revealed the accompaning changes of the basement membrane components during the regeneration process of partially resected thyroid glands. Among them, collagen IV seems to support the structural integrity of the basement membrane. Laminin and fibronectin were supposed to be related to the thyroid follicular regeneration.
Adult ; Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Calcitonin ; Collagen ; Collagen Type IV ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Laminin ; Male ; Membranes ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroidectomy

GH3 cells are derived from rat pituitary tumor cells that secrete prolactin and growth hormone, and important in studying prolactin-secreting pitutary tumors. This study was performed to examine the effects of polylysine on growth and differentiation of GH3 cells by means of (a) cell attachment assay (b) cell count and bromodeoxyuridine labeling and (c) immunohistochemistry for prolactin in the absence or presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Cell shape, attachment to the culture surface and growth of GH3 cells were not affected by polylysine coating. The percentages of prolactin-immunoreactive cells were higher in the cells cultured on the polylysine-coated surface compared to those on the plastic surface. Cell number and BrdU incorporation were lower in the EGF-treated cells on both culture surfaces. The results provided basic information on the effects of polylysine coating on GH3 cells in culture and suggested that polylysine coating was useful for the study on GH3 cells because it enhanced cell differentiation as well as it provided stronger attachment than plastic surfaces.
Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Shape ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Growth Hormone ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Plastics ; Polylysine* ; Prolactin ; Rats*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are a few reports about the function of submandibular gland obstructed by stone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histopathologic change of submandibular gland for sialolithiasis and its correlation to histopathologic grades and clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we reviewed the clinical history of 23 patients who underwent submandibular gland excision for sialolithiasis. Histopathologic grades of submandibular gland were estabilished by the degrees of inflammation, atrophy, and fibrosis. We evaluated the relation between histopathologic grades and clinical findings including age, sex, duration of symptoms, number of infectious episodes, time between the last infectious episode and surgery, use of antibiotics. RESULTS: Normal to mild histopathologic grades showed 22% (5/23), the moderate grade showed 35% (8/23), the severe grade showed 43% (10/23). There is no significant relationship between histopathologic grades and clinical findings. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that, if possible, the conservative therapy should be preferred rather than performing the excision of submandibular gland for sialolithiasis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Atrophy ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Submandibular Gland

Objective: Urgent upper endoscopy is performed to achieve acute hemostasis in patients with high-risk bleeding sources. Emergency physicians must identify patients who require urgent endoscopic treatments. This study assessed the performance of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) for predicting severe bleeding that necessitates urgent endoscopic hemostasis compared to the risk assessment scores in patients with acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB). Methods: The presumed ANVUGIB patients were classified into endoscopic and non-endoscopic hemostasis groups. Data including historical features, symptoms, signs, and routine laboratory tests were collected and compared. Results: Three hundred and ninety-one patients were analyzed, including 116 patients in the endoscopic hemostasis and 275 patients in the non-endoscopic hemostasis group. In the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic curve, BUN (AUC 0.733; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.681-0.785) and BUN/creatinine (AUC, 0.727; 95% CI, 0.672-0.783) were superior to total protein, Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS), modified GBS (AUC, 0.649, 0.623 and 0.646, respectively) for predicting endoscopic hemostasis. Pre-endoscopy Rockall score and AIMS65 were statistically insignificant. The same results were obtained when the patients with liver and chronic kidney diseases were excluded. Conclusion The current results suggest that BUN was an independent predictor of endoscopic hemostasis in patients with ANVUGIB. Further studies will be needed to determine if BUN can be used in clinical practice.